Tag: Speaking

Bullfighting – A Big Attraction in Spain

B1 – Intermediate

It is no secret that Spain is famous for its bullfighting. Thousands of tourists get excited to watch a real bullfight in the arena.

Read the article below and express your thoughts about bullfighting and how activists are trying to stop the sport.

http://www.english-online.at/culture/bullfighting/bullfighting-in-spain.htm

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think of bullfighting as a kind of entertainment?
2. Do you think bulls should be eaten after being killed in the arena?
3. Is it possible to completely wipe out the industry of bullfighting?
4. Are there other historical activities in your country that should be stopped?

Ancient Mummy Wearing Adidas Boots

B1 – Intermediate

We have heard many stories and have watched a number of films about time travel. But is time travel really possible?

Read the article below about a mummy wearing a specific footwear that has made many people think about time travelling.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1604/160415-time-travel.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you think this story is believable? Why or why not?
  2. If given a chance, would you time travel? Why or why not?
  3. Which period of time would you like to go back to? Why?

3D Printing: Turn Your Head into Chocolate Lollipops

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Imagine your head as a chocolate. Now, you can actually have it done and enjoy watching your friends eating a candied version of your head.

Click on the link below and express your thoughts about this start-up company and their sweet idea.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-35040661

Discussion Questions:

1. Explain the process of making the 3D chocolate heads.
2. What do you think of this start-up company?
3. What is your opinion of 3D printing? Do you think it has its own limitations?
4. If you were throwing a party, would you give out chocolate heads as sweets or souvenirs?
5. Would you like a candy version of yourself on a stick?

Jealousy, Prejudice, and Short People

B1 – Intermediate

We have all heard of the expression “walk tall” to signify confidence and pride. Or how you can “feel ten feet tall”  when you feel extremely good, like right after getting a promotion.

This light-hearted article shows a very interesting study of how our actual height can play a role in our success.

Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

A recent study discovered that short people are more likely to feel jealous. The research questioned more than 500 men and women from Denmark to Spain. They then used the data to discover which characteristics made people feel uncomfortable. Men and women were intimidated by money, strength, looks, and charm. However, shorter people felt more nervous than taller people.

In regards to evolution, this conclusion makes sense. Women who are average height or taller have the best health, popularity, and fertility with men. In addition, the study said taller men often have more success with women.

Other similar studies about height and modern culture agree. For example, tall men are more successful in business. In another study, a look at Fortune 500 companies showed that 58% of the CEOs were taller than six feet (169 centimeters), but only 14.5% of the US population was six feet. Moreover, taller people received better salaries than shorter people. One inch adds more than $750 to a person’s salary each year.

The study finished by stating that prejudice towards shorter people isn’t conscious.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:

1. Would you consider yourself a jealous person? Why/not?
2. Do you agree or disagree? Taller people enjoy more success in life.
3. If people from other countries were interviewed, would the results be the same?
4. Do you have any prejudices? Please explain.

Money Can Buy Happiness

B1 – Intermediate

A new study from Cambridge University suggests that money can buy you happiness. If money can indeed buy happiness, what will you buy to make you happy?

Read the article below then share your thoughts.

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1604/160411-money-happiness.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the relationship between money and happiness?
2. What does ‘retail therapy’ mean?
3. How would you describe your shopping habits?
4. Do you prefer online shopping or do you still like going to the store?

McDonald’s All-You-Can-Eat Fries

B1 – Intermediate

The addition of all-you-can-eat fries to the menu is just one of many recent changes at McDonald’s. New CEO Steve Easterbrook took over as boss last year. What can you say about this offering? Do you think this will boost the company’s profits?

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1604/160419-all-you-can-eat-fries.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. Will unlimited fries be a danger to the health of the people or do you think that people will always have the choice when it comes to their health?
  2. What changes would you suggest to McDonald’s/fast-food restaurants’ menus?
  3. Should McDonald’s and such restaurants consider their customers’ health more? Explain.
  4. What do you think fast-food restaurants of the future be like?

Getting Paid to Play

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We’ve all seen ads of odd jobs for big bucks. Getting paid to watch videos or to answer surveys. But most of them turn out to be hoaxes. Too good to be true.

Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

David Storey of Australia purchased a private island for $26,500. The sum may sound like a ridiculously cheap price. However, the island cannot be reached by any boat or plane because it’s virtual. In other words, the place doesn’t exist in the real world. It’s part of a computer program for players in the role-playing game, Entropia. The island was recently recognized as the priciest virtual object ever purchased with real money by Guinness World Records.

You now may wonder if Storey is a little bit crazy. However, don’t judge him so quickly because the twenty-seven-year-old graduate student currently earns more than $100,000 per year from the game. He is able to mix recreation and work. He runs the island like a rare game preserve, where hunters are taxed to use the land. He then exchanges the virtual money, known as Entropian dollars, for real cash. There are similar businesses online, like an asteroid space resort and a space station. If either of these properties were sold, they could earn hundreds of thousands of dollars!

People who are unfamiliar with online role-playing games may see the whole concept as ridiculous. Yet you have to give kudos to the gamers who have been able to succeed in an often competitive virtual world. David Storey and others like him don’t just live from paycheck to paycheck. If they did so, then the money would suddenly dry up if they quit playing to take a vacation or deal with a personal crisis. Instead, these individuals are making a lot of money. Even the most cynical individual has to respect the money earned. Gamers like Storey are getting paid to play.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:

1. Would you want to get paid for playing a video game? Why/not?
2. Would you want to get paid for doing something you really love? Why/not?
3. How is buying a virtual object different from buying luxury goods you don’t really need?
4. Are people like Storey just very lucky, or do they have some special quality?
5. If someone you knew wanted to make money online, what sort of advice would you give?

FBI Paid Professional Hackers to Crack iPhone

C1 – Advanced

In December 2015, 14 people were killed and 22 were seriously injured in a terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California.

To aid the investigation, the FBI turned to Apple so they can gain access to the iPhone used by a shooter. The tech giant “opposed this order” for reasons such as threats to Data Security – to name one.

The FBI cracked the phone not with the help of Apple but with the cooperation of hackers.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/fbi-paid-professional-hackers-one-time-fee-to-crack-san-bernardino-iphone/2016/04/12/5397814a-00de-11e6-9d36-33d198ea26c5_story.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What are your thoughts on this FBI–Apple encryption dispute?
2. What is your opinion about FBI seeking help of hackers to access the phone?
3. Should private companies willingly aid in crime investigations?
4. What are your thoughts on data security?

China Airlines to Blacklist Rowdy Passengers

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Flight delays are definitely unpleasant experience when traveling. But how do you react to it? Some people take it too far – causing even bigger problems at the airports, with the airlines and fellow passengers.

It’s time something is done about this. Read on how some Chinese Airlines are trying to address the problem on misbehaving air commuters.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35462707

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think blacklisting passengers is a good idea?
2. Have you ever been on a flight with an unruly passenger? Talk about this incident.
3. What are other actions/behaviors that should cause someone to be banned from airports or airlines?
4. Should aviation laws in your country be toughened to address problems with trouble-causing passengers?

Musician Cancels Show Over Transgender Law

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B2 – Upper intermediate

Bruce Springsteen, a famous rock musician cancelled a concert in North Carolina, because of the state’s laws on transgender issues. He’s one of the many artists who are fighting against discrimination and partiality.

Read the article below and express your thoughts about the issue.

http://www.voanews.com/a/bruce-springsteen-cancel-north-carolina-concert-transgender-law/3277096.html

Discussion Questions:

1. Are transgender people socially accepted in your country?
2. Have you heard of any act of discrimination against them?
3. Should transgenders be given equal rights in the society?